# take the initiative

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-the-initiative
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

to take action first or on one's own; to make the first move

## Examples

- You should take the initiative and ask for a raise.
- Instead of waiting for instructions, she decided to take the initiative and organize the messy office files herself.
- The manager praised the young intern for taking the initiative to propose a new strategy before anyone else had even identified the problem.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.